Polio tally rises to 13 as new case confirmed in KP

Pakistan’s battle against polio faces renewed challenges after another case has been detected in the country as per the National Institute of Health (NIH), raising the total number of cases for this year to 13, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.

This intensifies serious public health concerns regarding the ongoing spread of the virus.

The newly-confirmed case happened to be from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the victim is an 18-month-old child.

The province of KP has seen a resurgence of the poliovirus in recent months. 

The Regional Reference Laboratory for polio, which is based at the National Institute of Health, officially confirmed the diagnosis.

With this latest case, the tally of polio cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reached seven, which underscores the province’s current position as a major focal point in Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to eradicate poliovirus.

Amid rising case numbers in 2025, health authorities are keeping a close watch on the situation.

The recent spike highlights the critical importance of ramping up immunization drives and enhancing surveillance, especially in vulnerable areas.
Reporter Babar Shehzad